Prince Charles has special nickname for Meghan Markle

Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by the Prince of Wales in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for their wedding in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018.
Jonathan Brady/Pool via Reuters

Meghan Markle’s relationship with her own family might be fraught, but her relationship with her in-laws appear to be in good order. Her father-in-law, Prince Charles, reportedly has a special endearment for her, though it may sound odd for others who didn’t know the meaning behind it.

The Duchess of Sussex’s father skipped her wedding in May because he was still recovering from a heart operation that he had days prior then. Instead, it was the Prince of Wales who walked her down the aisle.

Meghan has apparently become close with Prince Harry’s father that he even has a nickname for her. According to the Daily Mail, Charles calls his new daughter-in-law “Tungsten” because she is tough and unbending, just like the rare metal.

Palace sources told the publication that while being called Tungsten doesn’t seem very flattering, Charles has meant it as a compliment.

“Prince Charles admires Meghan for her strength and the backbone she gives Harry, who needs a tungsten-type figure in his life as he can be a bit of a softy. It’s become a term of endearment,” a source said.

Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, even said that he was jealous that Charles got to accompany his daughter down the aisle on her big day. Nevertheless, he was grateful that the future king was there for his daughter.

Charles was also seen being gracious to Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland, at the church. He offered the American social worker his hand as he escorted her during the ceremony. He and his wife, Camilla, also invited Ragland to have tea with them at Clarence House shortly after she arrived in London from Los Angeles before the wedding.

Charles isn’t the only in-law Meghan has been getting along well. The Duchess is also said to have endeared herself to Queen Elizabeth. This was evidenced when Her Majesty attended a series of engagements in Cheshire with Meghan in June right after the younger woman’s honeymoon with Harry. The Queen has also reportedly given her a pair of pearl earrings that matched hers.

Last week, Meghan and sister-in-law Kate Middleton bonded during their first day out without their husbands. The Duchesses were seen giggling and chatting as they watched two matches at Wimbledon.

While Meghan’s relationship with her husband’s family is looking really good, the same cannot be said with her own family. Her father feared that she and the rest of the royal family have shunned him after he had done paid interviews. Thomas said she wasn’t picking up her phone. Her half-sister, Samantha Grant, whom she has not talked to in years, has even warned her that she was blaming her if their dad died.